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whitewater

whitewater

471 4.8
Fast, bubbly water in rivers with rapids or near waterfalls
  • noun
  • /ˈhwaɪtˌwɔːtər/
translation icon : aguas bravas
  • The sample comprised participants in the whitewater kayaking program at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in North Carolina.
  • whitewater kayaking
  • whitewater kayakers

So, yeah, we made plans to go whitewater rafting and hang out with this Airbnb and do some other stuff.

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Examples

  • One of the most exciting things they did was to go whitewater rafting on the Russell Fork River one Sunday.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • We could hear the roar of the whitewater as we approached the raging rapids downriver.

  • Over the weekend, the area whitewater rivers were in nice shape from the rain.

    Blog text (25)
  • The subjects in this study were individuals who participated in whitewater kayaking.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The upper sections are extremely technical and beautiful whitewater, suitable only for expert paddlers.

    Blog text (13)
  • The only way to explore this portion is to ride the eighty miles of whitewater that churns through it.

    Academic text (2003)
  • PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Campers go for a wild whitewater ride at an Audubon summer camp.

    Academic text (2002)
  • The kayakers navigated through the dangerous whitewater of the river, enjoying the thrilling ride.

  • After heavy rains, the river was filled with whitewater, making it ideal for rafting enthusiasts.

Synonyms

white water
vswhitewater
9 3.2

Fast, rough parts of a river full of bubbles that look white

is the same idea but does not mention the cause of its frothiness
white water rapid
vswhitewater
1 4.2

A fast, rough part of a river with white foamy waves

refers to the water itself rather than the specific river section

How Turbulent

torrent
6 4.4
whitewater
471 4.8
choppy
12 3.9
flowing
1 3.7
still water
4 1.4

Surface Forms

whitewater singular
whitewaters plural

Morphology

whitewater = white + water (transparent) = white + water

A straightforward compound whose meaning is directly derived from 'white' + 'water' (water made white by foam in rapids).

Etymology

Whitewater combines white (meaning 'white') and water (meaning 'water'), because river rapids make the water foamy and look 'white'. That's why whitewater means fast, frothy river water you find in rapids or below waterfalls.